The film is about an egotistical music teacher envious of the immense talent of his prodigious young disciple, and depicts their tumultuous relationship.

[2] The lyrics were penned by Vennelakanti Rajeswara Prasad, Sirivennela Seetarama Sastry, C. Narayana Reddy, and Madugula Nagaphani Sharma.

When they hand him over to the police, the officer in charge identifies him as a once-famous musician, Anantha Rama Sharma (Mammooty), hailed as Sangeeta Samrat (Emperor of music), who has been missing for four years.

The inspector Radhakrishna (Achyuth) informs his aunt (Jayanthi), who teaches yoga and music in his native village, of this and the past of Anantha Sharma which is narrated through flashback.

Anantha Rama Sharma is a widely respected egoistic Carnatic composer and singer with inflated self-esteem.

This is established when he rejects the Padma Shri bestowed upon him by the Government of India, as he believes that the other awardees are not worthy to be mentioned alongside him.

He rejects the society's norms (taking music classes and going to school) and spends his time sitting by the riverside.

The song “Aanati Neeyara” is written in Thyagaraja Pancharatna Krithi style by Sirivennela Sitaramasastry.

This song fetched Vani Jayaram the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

The song "Shivani Bhavani" is sung in the same tune but with different emotional levels by the two lead characters Anantha Sharma (Mammootty) and Gangadharam (Master Manjunath) respectively.

[7] All music is composed by K. V. Mahadevan[8]The film was released on 1 January 1992 on New Year's Day to widespread critical acclaim.

In a retrospect interview of the film by iQlik Movies, they call the film an unmistakable epic by writing: "Swathi Kiranam is called an unmistakable epic because it explores the hidden side of a successful Carnatic Music singer - his inner fears, his insecurities just because he watches a child prodigy grow in front of his own eyes."

The line where a tormented Gangadharam says ,” Mimmalni choosthe maa amma gari la anipisthunnaru..kaani ayyagaru endhuku thandri la kanipinchatledho ardham kavatledhu” (“While I can see a mother in you, I don’t know why I am unable to see a father in sir!”) to Anantha Sharma's wife can make anybody tearful.